IELTS Writing Useful Phrases : Most Common Vocabulary for IELTS

IELTS Writing Useful Phrases : Most Common Vocabulary for IELTS : For many candidates, the IELTS essay is one big thing that hinders them from achieving a good score. If you are also one of those candidates who fear IELTS Writing essays and need some guidance, then you are at the right place. Make use of these simple phrases or word-groups to make your essay more meaningful and attractive. But, take note of it that the advice, suggestions or recommendations provided are for the purpose of practicing how to write well. You can make use of a few of them to begin your essay in your real IELTS exam too. Using the right vocabulary for IELTS in Writing Task 2 is the key factor of success in your exam. Here useful words and phrases are gathered for you to increase your level of English and your ielts band score as well. First of all, we start takeing a look at the most common vocabulary that you can use to raise your ielts band level. The IELTS Writing Task is marked according to the following criteria: grammar and sentence structure, vocabulary utilization, task response, and coherence and cohesion. IELTS examiners have been impressed by candidates’ vocabulary and mastery of syntax but frustrated by how incoherently one sentence flows into the next.

 Most Common Vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2

In this part of the ielts you are supposed to write a formal essay. This could ask you anything from your opinion on an current public issue, to discussing the advantages and disadvantages of a solution to an issue, to coming up with solutions to an issue on your own! Whether you’re sitting for the Academic or the General Training IETLS exam, you can use this most common vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2 in almost any situation.

 1. Words to Use in IELTS Writing Task 2: Introduction

At the beginning of Writing Task 2, you’ll need to restate the prompt, give your thesis, and provide an overview of the essay. 

The most common vocabulary used in IELTS Writing Task 2

• It appears that…
• It may seem that…
• This essay will show that…
• This essay will argue that…
• To examine this issue, this essay will examine both….and…
• Firstly, this essay will…and secondly, it will….
• What does this look like in practice? Here are a few examples!It appears that exercise has both physical and mental benefits.
• It may seem that studying the arts is useless, but the opposite is true.
• This essay will show that smartphones are actually beneficial.
• I will argue that the government should play a larger, not a smaller, role in public health.
• To examine this issue, this essay will examine both the social and physical effects of family meals.

2. Words to Use in IELTS Writing Task 2: Paragraphs

Within each body paragraph, you need a clear topic sentence. Sometimes, these will be as simple as listing examples, but you can also use words and phrases to illustrate conflicts and contradictions between ideas.

Here’s the most common vocabulary used in IELTS Writing Task 2 to do that.

• First of all,
• In addition,
• For example,
• For instance,
• Conversely,
• However,

e.g.

• First of all, the government takes a strong role in limiting gambling and other forms of entertainment, so it should also take a larger role in sports.
• In addition, employees may find that no further opportunities are available for them at the same company past a certain point.
• For example, self-checkout options lead to the loss of jobs within the community.
• For instance, electric cars damage the environment far less than cars that run on petrol.
• Conversely, the energy involved in producing electric cars may outweigh the overall energy savings.
• However, it is important to acknowledge the negative impacts of smartphones, particularly on mental health.

3. Words to Use in IELTS Writing Task 2: Conclusion

You’ll need to transition to your final paragraph (your conclusion) smoothly. Rather than just restating the thesis statement right away, use transition words and phrases to wrap up.

Here’s the most common vocabulary used in IELTS Writing Task 2 to do that.

• Finally,
• To summarise,
• In the end,
• On balance,
• Therefore,
• What does this look like in practice

 e.g.

• Finally, young people should welcome advice from their elders.
• To summarise, junk food is an unnecessary burden on public health and should be regulated.
• In the end, universities should make history courses requirements for graduation.
• On balance, the recent dependence on the Internet is a positive development.
• Therefore, the government should more strictly regulate violent content in films and other media.

Linking Words, Phrases, and Paraphrasing

Within each paragraph, you’ll need to include linking words and phrases, as well as paraphrases of important ideas, to make the essay read fluently.

 IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 Linking Words

Sometimes, it’s more useful to hear words spoken to integrate them into your vocabulary. This is also a great way to learn a variety of vocabulary words and phrases for IELTS Writing Task 2 quickly.

Vocabulary Lists and Resources for IELTS Writing

Because the topics on IELTS Writing Task 2 can be so varied, the words to use in IELTS Writing Task 2 are also varied! Here are a few resources, both general and specific, to help you out in different scenarios.

• IELTS Science Vocabulary
• IELTS Vocabulary: University Classes and Learning
• Complete Guide to IELTS Vocabulary: PDF
• IELTS Vocabulary Flashcards
• The Complete Guide to IELTS Vocabulary
• How to Learn New Vocabulary

Of course, just sitting and staring at a bunch of words isn’t going to help you much on test day. Here are some resources to help you learn vocabulary for IELTS Task 2 in a way that will actually help boost your score!

 Beginning words

• Over the last century ...
• The idea that ... has its merits.
• While this is an interesting proposal and has some merit, my own view is that it would ...
• Despite these arguments, there is an equally strong case to be made that it would be ...
• There is much debate about the position. I will discuss both these ... in this essay.
• This is a complex issue and my belief is that ...
• There are a variety of potential ways of combatting this problem.
• However, in order to find a solution, it is first of all necessary to understand what has led to this happening.
• Finding the right policies is not an easy task as it is a complex problem.
• There is some dispute whether the best method of …

Stating viewpoints

• There are different viewpoints held in this discussion.
• Some people argue that ..., while others think that ...
• However, there is a large body of opinion which is opposed to …
• It is said that three-quarters of all children ...
• To add more points on a topic
• There are several reasons why ...
• It can also be argued that ...
• This is certainly not an easy issue though, because ... has caused as many problems as it solves.
• ... is the only point to be taken into consideration when ...
• ... is an urgent problem that needs to be addressed.
• At the same time, a lot of publicity is given to what the public consider to be ...
• Most of the experts blame … for this problem.
• Given that … is cheap and ..., it is not surprising that ...

Endings words

• My conclusion is therefore that ...
• In conclusion, I believe that while there are real merits on both sides of the argument, the moral case against forcing people to work slightly outweighs any benefit to ...
• Its benefits outweigh the drawbacks and have a positive effect on many aspects of our lives ...
• All things considered, ...
• My own personal view is that there is merit in both sides of the debate.
• Finally, ...

 For introducing

You can introduce your essay in one of the following manners

• This essay will analyze (issue here)
• It is undeniable that the (issue here) is one of the most pressing issues in (country)
• It is an established fact that the (issue here)
• It is commonly believed in many of the countries that (issue here)
• Phrases that can be used for the body paragraphs (Generally for the opinions / views)

If you are explaining an opposing thought, then it is better to begin with “However.”

You can say as follows:

• However, it should be taken into consideration that (information here)
• However, it should be taken into account that the (information here).
• Providing examples

In IELTS Writing, it will be important to support your views or opinions by providing some examples.

These examples are often drawn from personal experiences. Based on the topic you will have to think of a good example that can support your opinions.

• For instance, studies conducted recently by the (information here) show that (information here).
• The problem can be better explained with the following example.
• A good example of this is that (information here)
• For instance, (information here)
• Such as (information here)
• The best example is (information here)
• There are many such cases that take place and that go unnoticed.
• It is fairly easy to understand the issues that are common
• I do not say that I agree with (information goes here)
• I strongly oppose / suggest / recommend that (information)
• Numerous studies conducted on this subject have led to the conclusion that (information).
• However, it can be concluded that (information)
• It is easy to comprehend that the (information here)
• Not all the people support this because (information)

Express your opinions using the following word-groups or phrases

• I believe that
• I think that
• I feel that
• Personally, I feel that
• As far as I am concerned
• In my views
• From my point of view / viewpoint

These are the common words that can be used when you have to combine two different sentences or thoughts

• Furthermore
• In addition to
• Likewise
• On top of that
• However
• But
• Nevertheless
• Additionally
• Comparing two things

Make use of these common word groups or phrases to compare things in the right way.

In your writing task in IELTS you will also have to be good at comparing things. There can be two or more than two things that you may have to compare.

• In contrast
• By comparison
• Comparing this with the other, it can be said that the latter is / the former is (information here)
• Meanwhile
• On the other hand
• However

Use the following word groups or phrases when you have to say that one thing will happen only after another thing happens

• On the condition that
• Provided that
• As long as
• Unless
• Supporting that
• Otherwise

Use these word-groups or phrases when you are introducing any reason

• As a result
• As a consequence
• Therefore
• Accordingly, that
• On that account
• For that reason

Connecting Words for Both IELTS Writing Tasks 

To get higher marks in the IELTS Writing Test, more linking words are required. To achieve coherence and cohesion, you must employ a variety of phrases to connect one thought to the next, allowing the reader to follow your reasoning.Here are the most effective and common phrases in the IELTS Writing Test:

Transitional Words

• Addition
• Likewise…
• In addition…
• Moreover…
• Furthermore…
• Additionally…
• On top of that…

Cause and effect

• Therefore…
• As a result…
• Accordingly…
• Consequently…
• On that account…
• For that reason…
• Comparison/Contrast
• However…
• In contrast…
• Meanwhile…
• Alternatively…
• Nevertheless…
• On the other hand…

Conclusion

• Finally…
• In the end…
• To sum up…
• To conclude…
• To summarize…
• In conclusion…

Condition

• If…
• Unless…
• As long as…
• Provided that…
• Supposing that…
• On the condition that…

Emphasis

• Clearly…
• Especially…
• In particular…
• Particularly…
• Importantly…
• Without a doubt…

Listing

•  …,such as…
• To illustrate…
• For instance…
• For example…
• The best example is…
• A very good example is…

Opinion

• I concur that…
• I agree that….
• I think/feel/believe that…
• Personally, I feel that…
• As far as I am concerned…
• From my point of view…

Concession

• Although…
• Despite…
• In spite of…
• Although…
• Admittedly…
• Even though…

Order

• First of all…
• To start with…
• Secondly…
• Next…
• Thirdly/fourthly/etc…
• Finally…

Vocabulary to Use in IELTS Writing Task 1 : Academic Test: Vocabulary to Describe Graphs

Introducing the graph

The graph/table/pie chart/bar chart/diagram…

• shows …
• illustrates …
• explains why …
• describes …
• gives information about/on …
• provides information about/on …

Changes in the graph

• a rise of…
• a growth of…
• a peak of…
• a surge of…
• a fall in…
• a decrease in…
• a decline in…
• a dip in…
• a fluctuation in…
• a variation in…

Verbs

• surge
• grow
• leap
• rocket
• soar
• dive
• plunge
• plummet
• fluctuate
• vary

 Adverbs

• gently
• wildly
• rapidly
• slightly
• sharply
• suddenly
• abruptly
• gradually
• steadily
• markedly
• modestly
• marginally
• dramatically
• significantly
• considerably
• Adjectives
• sharp
• sudden
• rapid
• abrupt
• dramatic
• steep
• significant
• considerable
• marked
• substantial
• gradual
• steady
• consistent
• modest
• marginal

IELTS IELTS Writing in General Training Test: Vocabulary to Write Letters: 

 1. Introduction of the Letter

Formal

• I am writing to inform you that …
• I am writing to ask/inquire …
• I am writing with regard to …
• I am writing in connection with …
• I am writing with reference to …

Informal

• It’s been a long time. I am writing to…
• I’m simply writing to inform you that…
• I haven’t seen you in a long time.
• Please accept my apologies for not writing in such a long time. I’ve been quite busy…

2. Body of the Letter

Asking for Information

• I’d like for you to…
• Could let me know if…
• I’d appreciate it if you could…
• I’m hoping you could inform me…
• I’d like to seek your opinion on…

Complaining

• This letter is to express my dissatisfaction…
• I’m writing to express my displeasure with…
• I’m writing to voice my disappointment with…
• I’m writing to tell you that I am disappointed…
• Expressing Gratitude
• I am thankful for…
• I’m very grateful for…
• I very much appreciated…
• I’d like to thank you very much for…

Apologizing

• I really regret that/about…
• Please accept my apologies for…
• I’d like to express my regret for…
• Please accept my sincere apologies for…
• Giving Advice
• You should…
• You ought to…
• Why don’t you…
• If I were you, I’d…
• Giving Suggestion
• If you like, I can…
• Do you want me to…
• What do you think about…
• I believe it would be fantastic if you…

3. Closing of the Letter

Formal

• I eagerly await your response.
• Thank you so much for your assistance.
• Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.
• I’m hoping for a quick resolution to the matter.
• Please do not hesitate to call me if you need any additional information.

Informal

• Please stay in contact!
• I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
• Thanks a lot for your assistance, send me a message soon.
• Anyway, I have to leave now. If you need additional details, please write again.

 Vocabulary to Use in IELTS Writing Task 2 (Both Academic and General Training)

Expressing Opinions

• I’d argue that…
• In my opinion…
• Personally, I believe…
• It appears to me that…
• I have to admit that…
• As far as I can tell…
• As for me, I believe…
• That is something I cannot deny…
• I’d like to emphasize that…
• In my personal experience…

Proving Arguments

• To attest…
• To prove…
• This is testified by…
• This is evidenced by…
• This establishes that…
• This is attested/proven by…

Expressing General Point of View

• It is commonly stated that…
• According to popular belief…
• It is commonly assumed that…
• It is generally assumed that…
• It is largely agreed upon that…
• It’s a widely held assumption that…

Outlining Facts

• It is evident that …
• The truth is that …
• It is obvious that …
• This shows that …
• There is no doubt that …
• Giving Examples
• As an example…
• Take for instance…
• We can see this in…
• A good illustration of this is…
• Evidence for this is manifested in…

Concluding

• To summarize…
• In conclusion…
• In general…
• On balance…
• Taking everything into account…

Here are some of them. Take note of the transition words and vocabulary used in IELTS Writing

The IELTS Writing Test is by no means easy. Most candidates would agree that this part of the test made them anxious. To impress the examiners and get a high band score, it is advised that you read and study different sample and model responses and learn the different writing techniques to help you achieve your desired band score.

IELTS Writing Example 1:

"The table depicts the amount of monthly household income spent on four products in five European nations. The percentages were used to calibrate the data. Housing is clearly the top expense item for France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, since they each spend around one third of their income on it, at 30%, 33%, and 37%, respectively.

They, on the other hand, spend about a quarter of their income on food and drink. Surprisingly, Turkey and Spain follow the exact opposite pattern, spending a fifth of their income on housing but one-third on food and drink.

Furthermore, clothing and entertainment are two areas where all five countries spend significantly less. In terms of clothing, France and Spain spend the least, at less than 10%. The other three countries, however, spend almost the same amount, ranging between 12% and 15%. At 19%, Germany spends one fifth of its budget on entertainment. The UK and Turkey, moreover, spend roughly half of this amount.

Overall, the bulk of each country's money is spent on food and drink, as well as housing. Clothing and entertainment were far less expensive."

IELTS Writing Example 2:

• Topic:

You were supposed to start a new job next week, but you won’t be able to because of certain issues. Send a letter to your new boss. In your letter,

give an explanation of your circumstances
state your issues
inform him/her when you think you’ll be able to begin.

• Sample Response:

Dear Ms Smith,

I am writing with regards to the position of Assistant Office Manager that I am supposed to start next week. However, an unfortunate incident has arisen.

Like I said during the interview, I am currently working at my aunt's company, where I gained significant experience. However, she had been hospitalized, so my uncle is now taking charge of the business. She has asked me to stay a little longer and help him with the business operations because this is an especially hectic time of year.

I do understand that this will not be convenient for you, but I genuinely hope that, given the situation, you will be willing to let me start with you three weeks later than what we have agreed upon.

I would like you to know that I remain very keen to work with you, and that I will be obtaining further useful knowledge and skills during this time.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

ALI Rahimi

IELTS Writing Example 3:

• Topic:

How much do you agree or disagree with the claim that e-books and modern technology will completely replace conventional newspapers and magazines?

• Sample Response:

"Technology is advancing at a breakneck pace, opening up new doors for us while keeping us informed about the latest news and events. As a result, many people believe that traditional newspaper reading will become obsolete. I disagree since the easiest and cheapest way to obtain news is through a traditional newspaper.

To begin, there are a variety of reasons why traditional news gathering methods remain popular. First, many people have developed a strong desire to read the newspaper. Everyone, whether affluent or middle class, can be seen eagerly anticipating the arrival of the newspaper in the morning and reading it with a cup of tea.

Furthermore, these are the most portable, least expensive, and simplest ways of staying informed about global events. It may be taken from one location to another in a bag and is reasonably priced. It's quite useful, and simply flipping through the pages can make you omniscient. Second, there is no need for power or other equipment.

Furthermore, the additional accessories are frosting on the cake. The Hindustan Times, for example, has a variety of articles such as women's fashion, job advice, culinary art, and so on.

However, technology has surely changed the way we read news. For example, videos provide a full and clear view of what we're reading, and we can also save, share, and forward it to our family and friends. Technophobia, it goes without saying, will have no place in an ever-advanced modern society.

To summarize, improved versions of technology have a significant impact on people's lives, but they will not, in my opinion, be able to threaten the existence of conventional newspapers and periodicals."

IELTS Writing Example 4:

• Topic:

Some argue that children should be educated to compete, while others argue that they should be taught to cooperate. What are your thoughts on the matter?

• Sample Response:

"Children are society's future, and they must be instilled with true life values. As a result, there are those who believe that a competitive spirit should be instilled in them, while others believe that cooperative qualities must be possessed. Before forming a judgment, I shall discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each view.

Firstly, there are numerous reasons why children should have competitive ideals. Competition encourages young people to work harder in order to advance in their studies and other endeavors. They begin to work hard in order to compete with others and learn the value of perseverance. They are able to achieve first place in every competition because of their dedication and hard work. Second, competitive values instill in children self-confidence and self-reliance. They are highly likely to have self-achievement and fulfillment when they join in activities and compete with others. They believe they are deserving of a calm and peaceful mind. They tend to become self-sufficient, and as a result, they have the best decision-making abilities. Furthermore, a sense of accomplishment is a requirement. Without a doubt, people in the current period confront rivalry from infancy to adulthood. For example, in school there is a dance competition, a race competition, a poem competition, and as they get older, they face competition in finding a job, applying for college, and even completing an exam. As a result, a value is essential.

On the other hand, it is obvious how critical it is to instill the value of cooperation. This is the only way a youngster may learn teamwork, team spirit, coexistence, tolerance, and patience through their feelings. Furthermore, when looking at history, it is clear that the well-known icons of society are only those that have a helpful and sacrificing mentality. A self-centered person will never achieve fame in society. Second, constant competitiveness preaching may develop feelings of rivalry among peers and others. These feelings of rivalry quickly evolve into jealousy and personal grudges. A heart filled with resentment towards others can never be good for themselves or others.

To sum up, after weighing both competitive and cooperative values, I believe that each has its own significance. As a result, a child should be raised by evenly imparting both."

IELTS Academic Writing Test : Word Lists

The IELTS Writing Test requires an extensive vocabulary. Having a diverse vocabulary is one of the secrets to writing an effective essay. However, it is not enough to memorize the words; you also need to know how to use them in your writing. We have listed a set of word lists to help you with your IELTS Writing Test. Do not be worried if you will not memorize all the word lists: quality trumps quantity! It is far preferable to learn 1 word-lists well rather than 5 word-lists poorly.

IELTS Writing Word List 1

abandon , abstract , academy , access , accommodate , accompany , accumulate , accurate , achieve , acknowledge , available , aware , behalf , benefit , bias , bond , brief , bulk , capable , capacity , circumstance , cite , civil , clarify , classic , clause , code , coherent , coincide , collapse , data , debate , decline , deduce , define , definite , demonstrate , denote , deny , derive , economy , edit , element , eliminate , emerge , emphasis , empirical , enable , encounter , energy , expose , external , extract , facilitate , factor , feature , federal , fee , file , final , generation , globe , goal , grade , grant , guarantee , guideline , hence , hierarchy , highlight , invoke , involve , isolate , issue , item , job , journal , justify , label , labor , locate , logic , maintain , major , manipulate , manual , margin , mature , maximize , mechanism , normal , notion , notwithstanding , nuclear , objective , obtain , obvious , occupy , occur , odd

IELTS Writing Word List 2

acquire , adapt , adequate , adjacent , adjust , administrate , adult , advocate , affect , aggregate , colleague , commence , comment , commission , commit , commodity , communicate , community , compatible , compensate , design , despite , detect , deviate , device , devote , differentiate , dimension , diminish , discriminate , enforce , enhance , enormous , ensure , entity , environment , equate , equip , equivalent , erode , finance , finite , flexible , fluctuate , focus , format , formula , forthcoming , found , foundation , hypothesis , identical , identify , ideology , ignorant , illustrate , image , immigrate , impact , implement , layer , lecture , legal , legislate , levy , liberal , license , likewise , link , limit , media , mediate , medical , medium , mental , method , migrate , military , minimal , minimize , offset , ongoing , option , orient , outcome , output , overall , overlap , overseas , panel , prohibit , project , promote , proportion , prospect , protocol , psychology , publication , publish , purchase

IELTS Writing Word List 3

aid , albeit , allocate , alter , ambiguous , amend , analogy , analyze , annual , anticipate , concept , conclude , concurrent , conduct , confer , confine , confirm , conflict , conform , consent , displace , display , dispose , distinct , distort , distribute , diverse , document , domain , domestic , error , establish , estate , estimate , ethic , ethnic , evaluate , eventual , evident , evolve , framework , function , fund , fundamental , furthermore , gender , generate , gestate , gradual , gratitude , implicate , implicit , imply , impose , incentive , incidence , incline , income , incorporate , index , minimum , ministry , minor , mode , modify , monitor , motive , mutual , negate , network , paradigm , paragraph , parallel , parameter , participate , partner , passive , perceive , percent , period , positive , potential , practitioner , precede , precise , predict , predominant , predominates , preliminary , presume , pursue , qualitative , quote , radical , random , range , ratio , rational , react , recover

IELTS Writing Word List 4

apparent , append , appreciate , approach , appropriate , approximate , arbitrary , area , aspect , assemble , cooperate , coordinate , core , corporate , correspond , creator , credit , criteria , crucial , culture , devote , differentiation , diminish , displacement , display , distinction , distorted , dramatic , duration , ethical , economic , element , environment , error , equation , establish , estimate , evaluation , eventually , evidence , exhibit , explicit , exploitation , extract , federal , fluctuations , format , founded , guidelines , highlighted , indicate , individual , induce , inevitable , infer , infrastructure , inherent , inhibit , initial , initiate , neutral , neighbor , niche , nibble , nowhere , obtain , obsolete , occasion , opportunity , opaque , persist , perspective , phase , phenomenon , philosophy , physical , plus , policy , portion , pose , previous , primary , prime , principal , principle , prior , priority , proceed , process , professional , refine , regime , region , register , regulate , reinforce , reject , relax , release , relevant

Commonly Confused Words in the English Language

English is a complicated language. Some words look the same, and some sound the same. Recognizing the difference between these similar words could be tricky. We want to help you succeed on your IELTS journey, so we are providing you with some of the most commonly confused words in the English language. Pay close attention to these words and avoid the past mistakes most candidates have committed.

Affect vs. Effect

Affect

• Meaning: To have an influence or effect on something/someone
• Example Sentence: “Not winning the competition did not affect her as much as I thought it would.”

Effect

• Meaning: To cause something to happen
• Example Sentence: “The effect of her medications on her illness was surprisingly quick.”

Loose vs. Lose

Loose

• Meaning: Not fitting tightly or closely
• Example Sentence: “The dress she is wearing is obviously loose on her.”

Lose

• Meaning:

(1) To fail to win or

(2) to misplace something

• Example Sentence:

(1) “I hate losing at chess against my sister.”

(2) “He lost his keys at the party last night.”

Lay vs. Lie

Lay

• Meaning: To put down gently or carefully
• Example Sentence: “She laid her bracelet on the study.”

Lie

• Meaning: To assume a horizontal position on a resting surface
• Example Sentence: “He lies down on the bed and takes a nap.”

Accept vs. Except

Accept

• Meaning: To consent to receive
• Example Sentence: “She accepted the award graciously.”

Except

• Meaning: Not included
• Example Sentence: “They go to the park every day except on Sundays.”

Complement vs. Compliment

Complement

• Meaning: Something that fills up, completes, or makes better
• Example Sentence: “Her scarf is a complete complement to her outfit.”

Compliment

• Meaning: A polite expression of praise
• Example Sentence: “I was surprised by how he reacted over a small compliment.”

Farther vs. Further

Farther

• Meaning: Over a large expanse of physical distance
• Example Sentence: “The black car is farther away than the white car.”

Further

• Meaning: Over a large expanse figurative distance
• Example Sentence: “The newly-hired employee asked further questions from the manager.”

passed vs. Past

Passed

• Meaning: Simple past tense of ‘pass’
• Example Sentence: “She passed her exams in flying colors.”

Past

• Meaning: Gone by in time and no longer existing
• Example Sentence: “She has to move forward and leave the past behind her.”

Elicit vs. Illicit

Elicit

• Meaning: Draw out a response from someone
• Example Sentence: “I was not able to elicit any response from him.”

Illicit

• Meaning: Forbidden by law
• Example Sentence: “I have advised him to stop the use of illicit drugs.”

Any way vs. Anyway

Any way

• Meaning: A phrase that means in any manner or method
• Example Sentence: “Any way you suggest is fine, as long as we reach the venue in half an hour.”

Anyway

• Meaning: Used to confirm an idea just mentioned
• Example Sentence:  “It’s fine, I don’t mind. It’s my fault anyway.”

Than vs. Then

Than

• Meaning: Used before the second element in a comparison
• Example Sentence: “The weather yesterday was warmer than today’s.”

Then

• Meaning: An adverb indicating time or sequence.
• Example Sentence: “We went to the park, then ate at our favorite restaurant.”

Its vs. It’s

Its

• Meaning: Belonging to or associated with a thing previously mentioned
• Example Sentence: “The milk is past its expiration date.”

It’s

• Meaning: Contraction of ‘it is’
• Example Sentence: “It’s raining outside, bring an umbrella.”

Their vs. There vs. They’re

Their

• Meaning: Belonging to or associated with people or things previously mentioned
• xample Sentence: “The tourists left their shoes outside the temple.”

There

• Meaning: An adverb of place (in, at, to)
• Example Sentence: “We went to Singapore and stayed there for a week.”

 They’re

• Meaning: Contraction of ‘they are’
• Example Sentence: “They’re planning a surprise party for their parents.”

Your vs. You’re

Your

• Meaning: Belonging to or associated with the person or people the speaker is talking to
• Example Sentence: “Your dress looks lovely.”

You’re

• Meaning: Contraction of ‘you are’
• Example Sentence: “You’re chosen to represent the class in the competition next week.”

Who vs. Whom

Who

• Meaning: A pronoun used as a subject refers to a person or people
• Example Sentence: “Who is the richest man in the world?”

Whom

• Meaning: A pronoun used as an object referring to a person or people
• Example Sentence: “Whom did he marry?”

That vs. Which

That

• Meaning: Used when the phrase after it is essential in the sentence
• Example Sentence: “Products that do not pass the standards are not sold to consumers.”

Which

• Meaning: Used when the phrase after it is not essential in the sentence
• Example Sentence:  “The homeless cat, which a stranger adopted, turned out to be my neighbor's lost pet."

To vs. Too

To

• Meaning: A preposition that indicates the direction
• Example Sentence: “I go to the supermarket every week.”

Too

• Meaning: An adverb that means in addition or also
• Example Sentence: “I love apples and grapes too.”

Tricks to Learn and Remember English Vocabulary

You will not get very far with your language skills, no matter how brilliant your grammar is if you do not know any words to use it with. Vocabulary brings up new worlds while also making studying enjoyable and rewarding. However, extending your vocabulary is like going on a diet. You need to exert effort, and there is no magic trick, no secret, and no one-size-fits-all method for doing so. You must identify what works best for you. Nevertheless, being patient, setting reasonable objectives, and rewarding yourself when you achieve them are sound strategies that can be supplemented with the following suggestions.

Make Use of Memory Tricks: Mnemonics are mental shortcuts that will help you remember more complicated concepts or words. It is a popular approach to memorizing a language. You can make associations between words. For example, when you need to buy Spaghetti, Tomatoes, Olives, Rice, and Eggs from the STORE. Furthermore, the more you think about acronyms or associations, the better you will remember the phrases that go with them.
Create an Environment Conducive to Learning: When you study abroad, you will hear and read the language everywhere, allowing you to acquire the language far more quickly through immersion. Luckily, you do not need to travel overseas to enhance your vocabulary gradually. You may create an inspirational and study-friendly environment wherever you are. Purchase publications or books in the new language, watch movies and prepare (or simply eat) local cuisine.
Make Use of a Notebook: Writing new words in a tangible notebook has a romantic quality to it. Just add a new word to a running vocabulary list when you come across a new word that you do not recognize. Then, a few times a week, go over the list, obliterating the English definitions and attempting to recall what each term meant. The more you read through the notebook, the easier it will be to recall the words. You can eventually cross off the words you know, so you do not have to go over them again.

Put the Words in Their Proper Context: Putting words in context is a fantastic way to learn more vocabulary faster. Consider putting them together in phrases rather than composing lists of random words. That way, you will understand how the word is utilized in everyday situations. It will also be easier to remember if you come up with entertaining sentences. You can also generate drawings or discover visuals that will complement the sentences and place the words in their natural home, depending on how you learn.

Take it a Step Further: Allow adequate space for mind maps with connected words, synonyms, and antonyms if you want to take your learning a step higher. If you’re going to make the most of your learning, try explaining and describing the word in English rather than translating it into your original tongue.

Put in The Effort: The most crucial thing you will need to recall English words is the appropriate attitude and the willingness to put in the effort. However, there is no such thing as a magical system. None of the approaches listed above are “correct” or “incorrect.” Find something that works for you and utilize it regularly. Experiment with a few to find which produces the greatest results.

A Final Word

When it comes to which words to use in IELTS Writing Task 2, there are a handful of terms you can memorize to set yourself up for success. However, more than just learning the most common vocabulary used in IELTS Writing Task 2, practicing with that vocabulary will be key to your success! So try a few practice sentences each time you learn a new phrase to better integrate it before test day.

Good luck!